Roosters thump Knights in WCC warm-up

The Sydney Roosters blew away the cobwebs ahead of next week's World Club Challenge against Super League champions Wigan with an emphatic 32-4 NRL trial win over Newcastle.

With coach Trent Robinson in Auckland for the Nines competition, assistant coaches Craig Fitzgibbon and Steve McNamara took control of the side that contained 10 of last year's grand final-winning team starting against a vastly inexperienced Knights outfit.

Sonny Bill Williams' last appearance was in front of more than 76,000 fans at Old Trafford in the Rugby League World Cup final for New Zealand, almost three months ago.

But at the more humble surroundings of the Morrie Breen Field, the dual international superstar was still the star attraction for a 2000 strong crowd let in for free.